"In a study carried out recently at the Greek University of Thessaloniki, the positive effects of the lick block were confirmed once again." An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Crystalyx on animal health and performance. The results proved that use of Crystalyx Trockensteher for dry cattle and Crystalyx Vitalyx during the transit phase had positive effects on the following factors:

Improved fertility by reducing the days open by 35 days

Improved animal health thanks to fewer reproductive diseases

Positive effect on energy and liver metabolism

Improved milk quality by reducing the cell counts

This meant, for example, that the cattle in the Crystalyx group could be inseminated six days earlier and were gestating 35 days earlier, which allows the calving interval to be reduced by 35 days. While the cattle in the Crystalyx group were inseminated 1.8 times for a successful pregnancy, the animals in the control group required 2.3 inseminations (pregnancy index).

Using Crystalyx also had positive effects on animal health, as demonstrated by comparing detected cases of metritis. None of the cattle in the Crystalyx group were diagnosed with metritis. In the control group, the proportion of detected cases of metritis was 15 percent, and was still 10 percent on the 28th lactation day. The results of the blood tests (metabolic parameters) confirmed the positive effects of the lick block on energy metabolism and liver metabolism.

"Based on an economic advantage of € 2 per day for the 35-day reduction in the calving interval, this advantage amounts to € 70 per cow in this experiment," explains the Product Manager. Deducting the cost of using Crystalyx, which is around € 19 per cow, this leaves a € 51 surplus per cow above the feed costs." The results of this experiment show a positive effect of Crystalyx on energy metabolism and an associated positive effect on fertility and animal health, as Gerald Krabbe sums up. "Even in economically difficult times, targeted use of Crystalyx is a worthwhile investment."